Wed May 15 2:01pm ET
Field Level Media
Christmas Day for NFL marketing and ticket sales departments finally arrived Wednesday with the release of the 2024 season schedule.
With subplots and peripheral angles multiplying before our eyes - hello, Netflix, welcome to NFL holiday football broadcasts - Field Level Media's football-minded contributors assembled the top 25 games of 2024.
24. Cardinals at Jets, TBD: We're grabbing our popcorn for one matchup, and one matchup alone: Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner. Top five draft picks likely to be near the top of the pecking order at their position for a decade.
23. Colts at Patriots, TBD: Drake Maye, the No. 3 pick in the 2024 draft, meet Anthony Richardson, drafted fourth overall in 2023. Indianapolis appeared to have a hit on its hands before Richardson was shut down to undergo shoulder surgery. If he can stay healthy and Maye isn't relegated to clipboard duty behind former Colts starter Jacoby Brissett, we're eager to make early evaluations of purported franchise QBs.
22. Jaguars at Eagles, TBD: Young QBs and strong pass rush are common bonds, sure, but the plotline we're looking at is the reception for Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson. He played for the Eagles (1999) but was essentially a coach-in-training for Donovan McNabb, then served as an assistant for Andy Reid and came back from a stint in KC for a five-year run that included a Super Bowl.
21. Bears at Texans, TBD: The Bears also get a meeting with the Carolina Panthers for the second consecutive season. With all due respect to Panthers 2023 No. 1 pick Bryce Young, the top rookie quarterback last season was Houston's C.J. Stroud. His numbers would have been the best ever single-season passing total for a Bears QB (4,108 to Erik Kramer's team record of 3,803). Stroud had 26 TD passes including the playoffs despite missing time with a concussion). The Bears hitched their wagon to No. 1 pick Caleb Williams with the rookie carrying massive talent - and expectations - in Year 1.
20. Vikings at Giants, TBD: All of the QB uncertainty one can handle on the undercard, LSU products Justin Jefferson (Vikings) and Malik Nabers (Giants) in the main event.
19. 49ers at Seahawks, TBD: Maybe you overlooked it. There's not a chance Brock Purdy did. He knows new Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald's defense - that of the Ravens - had him seeing ghosts in a five-interception laugher on Christmas Night last season. Macdonald's new club has a bunch of cross-training chess pieces determined to unseat the 49ers from the NFC West perch.
18. Jets at 49ers, Sept. 9: Week 1 on "Monday Night Football" is a familiar refrain for the Jets, who are hoping Aaron Rodgers has some magic left following a season-ending injury four snaps into his first start with the team in 2023. Rodgers is local - Chico, Calif., Butte JC and Cal - and went 6-3 against the 49ers with the Packers. Now 40 years old, he'll try to tip the scales toward the Jets, who are 3-11 all-time in the series with San Francisco. Jets head coach Robert Saleh has known 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan since breaking into the NFL as a low-level assistant with the Texans 15 years ago and was defensive coordinator on his staff before taking over with the Jets.
17. Cowboys at Commanders, TBD: Dan Quinn gets his second chance as a head coach in Washington and to be the champ in the NFC East, he'll have to take down his previous employer and boss, the Cowboys and Mike McCarthy. Given the amount of time Quinn spent with McCarthy and Dak Prescott, don't discount the level of concern the Cowboys have entering two games with Washington.
16. Eagles vs. Packers (Brazil), Sept. 6: The youngest roster in the NFL last season belonged to the Packers, and nobody can fault what Green Bay did in the offseason. Head coach Matt LaFleur debuts his offense with Josh Jacobs at running back and a new-look defense. It'll also be a big reveal game for the Eagles, unleashing their own big-ticket offseason item, Saquon Barkley, and a number of new faces on defense.
15. Falcons at Vikings, TBD: Welcome back, Kirk Cousins, congratulations on finding a team that didn't want to invest in a young quarterback to insure its $100M guarantee to a 35-year-old starter coming off an Achilles injury. Oops. Cousins could be hailed or hated for bailing on the Vikings in free agency following 50 regular-season wins in six seasons of Skol-ing.
14. Ravens at Chargers, TBD: Los Angeles and new hire Jim Harbaugh welcome John Harbaugh and the Ravens with entertainment expected to be rich before, during and after a matchup of AFC heavyweights. John Harbaugh won the last meeting and survived a brief power outage at the Super Bowl in New Orleans to take home the Lombardi and deal Jim's 49ers a painful defeat.
13. Steelers at Broncos, Week 2: Revenge games bring out the spirit and emotion you might not otherwise find in games that don't include Mike Tomlin. Pittsburgh picked up Russell Wilson after he was scrapped at a cost north of $80 million to Denver by second-year head coach Sean Payton. Payton, of course, is still in town and brought in a rookie, Oregon's Bo Nix, to train in the system that helped make Drew Brees a legend. Don't look now, but Pittsburgh had a sneaky excellent offseason while the Broncos shed leaders and linchpins on both sides of the ball (Wilson, Justin Simmons, Jerry Jeudy). If reunions are your thing, Payton also heads back to New Orleans this season.
12. Jets at Bills, Week 17: We know they'll get an earlier go at each other on "Monday Night Football" In October, but let's give the season time to breath and Aaron Rodgers time to round back into form. He'll be recently removed from his 41st birthday but should know the names of all of his wide receivers, a task Josh Allen might need more time to complete.
11. Ravens at Cowboys, TBD: Dak Prescott was great at home last season and Dallas fortified the offensive line through the draft. Whether new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has an answer for mobile quarterbacks - namely Lamar Jackson - might be the hot-button issue for the Cowboys. Baltimore's No. 1-ranked defense in 2023 also traveled well last season, battering Brock Purdy, Trevor Lawrence and Justin Herbert and limiting those three teams to a combined 36 points in Ravens' road wins.
10. 49ers at Packers, Nov. 24: Week 12 and the start of a pivotal, NFC-dominated, primetime featured stretch for Green Bay with nighttime marquee matchups at Detroit (Week 14) and Seattle (Week 15) ahead. Jordan Love's two interceptions stopped the Packers short of an upset at San Francisco in the divisional playoffs in January.
9. Texans at Cowboys, TBD: C.J. Stroud appears to be special and the Texans made sure his supporting cast wouldn't be a reason for a sophomore slump. But one warning: only the Bills and Patriots have a more difficult schedule based on 2023 results and offseason moves. Among the appealing underlying matchups: Houston wide receiver Stefon Diggs vs. Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs.
8. Bears at Packers, Jan. 5: The Week 18 finale was meaningful for Green Bay last season, and Jordan Love guided the Packers into the postseason to sweep the Bears and continue the trend Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers started. No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams makes his first foray into the likely frozen tundra. Will the Bears be playing for more than a spoiler token?
7. Dolphins at 49ers, TBD: It was Dec. 4, 2022, and far more meaningful than we knew at the time when a seventh-round rookie - 49ers QB Brock Purdy - made his first career start with two TD passes in a 33-17 home win over the Miami Dolphins. Back to the scene come the Dolphins with former 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel a solid bet to share some unknown intel about old boss Kyle Shanahan in the game week buildup.
6. Ravens at Chiefs, Sept. 5: Had this one been bumped back a couple months to multiply the meaningfulness in the standings and AFC playoff picture, it had an angle on a top three game of the 2024 regular season. Lamar Jackson vs. Patrick Mahomes remains must-see for all the right reasons.
5. 49ers at Bills, Dec. 4: The week-after-Thanksgiving primetime game on Sunday of Week 13 should be meaningful for teams with Super Bowl aspirations.
4. Rams at Lions, TBD: Two franchises on schedule to combine for more than $350 million in deposits into Jared Goff's bank account are back at it with Detroit out to duplicate their playoff win in January over one-time Lions QB Matthew Stafford.
3. Ravens at Eagles, TBD: Star power on display? Check-check. Potential Super Bowl preview? Sure thing. Saquon Barkley (Eagles) and Derrick Henry (Ravens) add firepower to a pair of offenses with explosive potential.
2. Lions at 49ers, TBD: Other than tackle eligible, think of another phrase that could spike Dan Campbell's temperature more than "at San Francisco." Didn't think so. The Lions were halfway to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl leading the 49ers handily in the NFC Championship but coughed up a 17-point lead and bowed out of the playoffs in a 34-31 defeat instead. If Campbell circled this game on the schedule in ink, we're guessing you can't read it.
1. (tie) Chiefs at 49ers, TBD: Familiar enough to be rivals, the Chiefs left with the jewels in recent games that really mattered between teams with a combined 50-18 record the past two regular seasons. San Francisco took a lashing from the Chiefs, 44-23, at home in Oct. 23 before the dawning of the Brock Purdy era.
1. (tie) Bengals at Chiefs, TBD: Don't forget Joe Burrow, he's more than the highest-paid player in 2024. The Bengals quarterback is 3-1 against the Chiefs but was sidelined with a broken wrist when the teams played in 2023. Don't look for a warm reception in Kansas City, where fans aren't soon to forget Burrow's boys calling the Chiefs' stadium "Burrow-head" based on his success at the home of Patrick Mahomes.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings had his most productive game since Week 2 in last week's loss to the Rams. Jennings had a season-high six catches for 71 yards and a touchdown against Los Angeles. The score was his second in as many weeks. Jennings' recent spike in productivity has been a welcome turnaround for fantasy football managers who held onto him through several weeks of injuries and single-digit fantasy scores. In Week 11, Jennings stands to benefit from the return of Brock Purdy (toe) to San Francisco's starting lineup after a six-game absence. Also coming back is fellow receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee), whose return will be a double-edged sword for Jennings. On the one hand, Pearsall might eat into Jennings' target share, but on the other, the former's presence might open things up for the latter to do more with less. Jennings projects as a WR3 with upside against a beatable Cardinals secondary in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy will take on the Denver Broncos in Week 11. Worthy should be well-rested coming out of the team's Week 10 bye, but it may not matter given his lack of production lately. Worthy was set to open the season as the team's clear WR1 during Rashee Rice's suspension, but Travis Kelce ran into Worthy, derailing his season in the opening quarter of Week 1. Worthy returned from his shoulder injury in Week 4 and racked up five catches for 83 yards, along with some usage in the run game. It was a promising first game, but it has been downhill since for Worthy. The speedy wideout has now caught three or fewer passes in three of his last four games. Worthy has only managed to eclipse 50 receiving yards twice in six games this season, and now he has to contend with Rice for targets. Worthy will also face the Broncos defense this week, the toughest matchup for opposing wide receivers this season. Worthy is ranked WR29 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, putting him in WR3/Flex range this week.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers running back Brian Robinson Jr. has turned the corner recently, posting consecutive RB2 finishes in the 49ers' last two games. Robinson's utilization in Week 10 and Week 11 was in line with past games, but with better results. Against the Giants and then the Rams, Robinson had his two highest rushing totals and scored a touchdown in each game. This trend has a good chance to continue in Week 11, when the 49ers face the Cardinals. Robinson saw just five snaps in the teams' last meeting in Week 3, but Arizona is coming off a game against Seattle where they allowed 181 rushing yards and two touchdowns to the Seahawks' backfield. Limited on touches, only another trip to the end zone would make starting Robinson in fantasy lineups worthwhile. He projects as an RB4 in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice will take on the Denver Broncos in Week 11. Rice returned from suspension in Week 7 and has been nothing short of spectacular for fantasy since. The 25-year-old stepped back into his WR1 role, earning 26 targets and scoring four touchdowns in three games heading into the team's Week 10 bye. With only a three-game sample size, Rice has the most points per game among wide receivers this season. Despite his incredible start, Rice will have to contend with Denver this week. The Broncos defense is the toughest matchup for wide receivers this season, allowing the fewest fantasy points per game to the position. Rice will need to link up with Patrick Mahomes often and in the red zone to manage a strong fantasy performance. Rice is ranked WR6 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a must-start WR1 despite facing the toughest matchup for receivers this season.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey had his second-lowest rushing total of the season in Week 10, gaining just 30 yards on the ground on 12 carries against the Rams. McCaffrey hasn't been as productive in the run game as he has been in years past, averaging 62.6 rushing yards per game in 2025. Still, McCaffrey has been an invaluable fantasy asset thanks to what he has done as a receiver. The double-threat is second in the NFL in receptions behind only Ja'Marr Chase and sixth in receiving yards. In Week 11, McCaffrey will do plenty of damage against the Arizona Cardinals. Last week, Arizona gave up 181 rushing yards and two touchdowns to the Seahawks' running backs. McCaffrey is a regular contender for overall RB1, and his projection for Week 11 is no different.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs running back Brashard Smith will face the Denver Broncos in Week 11. Smith should step into the RB2 role for the Chiefs this week with Isiah Pacheco ruled out with a knee injury. Despite a suspected bump in usage, Smith's statistical outputs before their bye in Week 10 were concerning. In Weeks 8 and 9, the rookie failed to eclipse 10 rushing yards, and his passing game usage was practically non-existent. Smith went from catching at least three passes in four games from Weeks 4 through 7, to catching zero passes in Weeks 8 and 9. The converted wide receiver has not been used much between the tackles this season due to his size and inexperience at the position, so if his receiving usage dries up, there is not much to be excited about. Smith will also have to face the Broncos this week. The Denver defense has allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs this season. Smith is ranked RB55 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, putting him deep in desperate flex range this week. Smith is explosive, but his floor is zero points. Fantasy managers should avoid Smith this week against one of the best defenses in football.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt will take on the Denver Broncos in Week 11. Hunt is set to handle the lion's share of the carries out of the backfield with Isiah Pacheco ruled out for Sunday's matchup. Hunt had been splitting the work with Pacheco for much of the season, but Pacheco had begun earning a larger role before going down with a knee injury. Now Hunt will assume a larger workload after being successful in his opportunities at the goal-line and in short-yardage situations. Despite playing in all nine games for the Chiefs this season, Hunt's 294 rushing yards rank 43rd among rushers this season. That low yardage total could be concerning if he didn't score so much, but Hunt ranks 11th in rushing touchdowns with five this year. The veteran back has a great chance to find the endzone every week, but he will have to contend with the stout Denver defense this week. The Broncos defense has allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs this season. Given his low yardage totals, starting Hunt this week would be betting on him to score a touchdown against one of the best defenses in the league. Hunt is ranked RB33 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, putting him at the backend of RB3 range this week.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (toe) has no designation on the team's final injury report ahead of their divisional clash with the Arizona Cardinals in Week 11. Purdy was listed as questionable in each of the last two weeks before ultimately being scratched from both contests. Sunday's action will be his first time back on the field since Week 4 and just his third start of the season. Purdy's return to action coincides with that of Ricky Pearsall (knee), which means the quarterback will have Pearsall, Jauan Jennings, and George Kittle all on the field for the first time since Week 1. Arizona has played well against opposing quarterbacks this season, but backup quarterback Mac Jones (knee) passed for 284 yards and a touchdown with one interception against the Cardinals back in Week 3. Similar results are within reach for Purdy, who projects as a borderline QB1/QB2 in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will take on the Denver Broncos on Sunday in Week 11. Mahomes has been the best quarterback in fantasy this season on a per-game basis and should be ready to compete coming out of the team's bye. The 30-year-old had his worst game of the season in Week 9 before the bye, completing just 44% of his passes while throwing an interception and scoring zero touchdowns in their loss to the Buffalo Bills. Despite having an extra week to rest and prepare, Mahomes could have a hard time getting back on track against the Broncos, who have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season. Divisional matchups also tend to be lower-scoring affairs given the familiarity between the teams, which could work against Mahomes having a ceiling performance this week. Mahomes is ranked QB7 in our RotoBaller rankings, making him a mid-range QB1 but with lower expectations than in other weeks.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson scored the team's only touchdown in Week 10 and could find more ways to contribute against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11. Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith acknowledged Wilson's recent impact this week, noting that the second-year pro is "starting to show signs of his role increasing." With Pittsburgh still searching for a consistent WR2 behind DK Metcalf and Calvin Austin III struggling, it's very possible Wilson earns more opportunities moving forward. Although this is an enticing matchup with a high projected point total, Wilson's limited involvement so far keeps him off the fantasy radar in most formats. That said, he's an intriguing deep-league stash and a name to monitor on Sunday.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf has been incredibly quiet over the past two weeks, but he'll look to get back on track against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11. Cincinnati has been middle-of-the-pack against fantasy wideouts overall, though they've been notably tough on opposing WR1s lately. Still, it is difficult to overlook the potential for a shootout, as this contest carries one of the highest projected point totals of the week. While Pittsburgh's tight ends are likely to get involved, Metcalf remains the clear top target for quarterback Aaron Rodgers and should see frequent usage on Sunday, especially if both offenses are trading scores. There is plenty of risk associated with starting Metcalf, but he offers a strong amount of upside as a low-end fantasy WR2 against the Bengals.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren had his most productive outing of the season against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 7, and he'll look to replicate that success against them at home in Week 11. Cincinnati has been shredded by opposing backs all year, surrendering the most fantasy points per game, the second-most yards per carry, the fourth-most receiving yards, and the second-most total touchdowns to the position. In addition to the juicy matchup, conversations surrounding Warren's workload bolster his fantasy upside this week. Both head coach Mike Tomlin and quarterback Aaron Rodgers have publicly stated that they would like the 27-year-old to see more touches going forward. Even with Kenneth Gainwell and Kaleb Johnson mixing in, Warren should have more than enough opportunity to provide top-10 fantasy production as a clear RB1 on Sunday.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is coming off his worst performance of the season but is primed to bounce back against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11. When Rodgers last faced the Bengals in Week 7, he delivered over 24 fantasy points with four touchdown passes in a road loss. Cincinnati has struggled defensively, surrendering the most points per contest in the NFL this year, so it's no surprise that this divisional showdown is expected to be one of the highest-scoring matchups of the week. Though Pittsburgh's offense has been inconsistent, it should be able to find its footing at home on Sunday. Rodgers can be viewed as a high-end streaming option with fringe top-12 value this week.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave continues to sit atop the team's depth chart, but he has failed to fill the void left by Tucker Kraft (knee). Kraft suffered a season-ending ACL tear in Week 9, but Musgrave has just six catches for 57 yards over his last two games. The 25-year-old has not even been a fantasy-relevant streamer, let alone the mid-to-high TE1 that Kraft was when healthy. A Week 11 matchup against the New York Giants could help Musgrave's stock, but he's still a non-factor in most fantasy leagues. Managers can leave him on waivers and should look elsewhere for mid-season help at the tight end position.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs saw a massive reduction in snaps and targets during his last game against the Atlanta Falcons. In Berlin, Downs played a mere 43 percent of the Colts' offensive snaps, converting two targets into one catch for three yards. The 24-year-old impressed as the WR35 in PPR leagues last season, but he has taken a step backward this year. He ranks outside the top 40 receivers and can no longer be trusted on a week-to-week basis. One reason for Downs' struggles is the increased competition around him. Indy is leaning on the run more than usual given Jonathan Taylor's success, and they've also gotten exceptional contributions from Tyler Warren, Michael Pittman Jr., and Alec Pierce. This has left Downs as somewhat of the odd man out. We do expect him to command more than two targets per game going forward, but he's not startable for the time being. Managers should leave Downs on the bench when the Colts return from their bye in Week 12.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III has earned a healthy dose of targets lately, but he has been relatively unproductive as fantasy managers are left wanting more from the 26-year-old. Austin missed two weeks with a shoulder injury earlier this season, and in three games since his return, he's averaging 6.7 targets, 3.7 catches, and 32.7 receiving yards. That equates to fewer than seven points per game, even in full-PPR leagues. We saw Austin flash big-play upside before his injury, so it's been frustrating to see him produce low yardage totals despite decent target shares. The 26-year-old held onto his job as the No. 2 receiver after the trade deadline, which is a good sign, but he's no longer reliable in fantasy lineups. Managers should leave him on the bench until he re-proves that he can produce consistently.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard has become firmly entrenched in the backup role following Rico Dowdle's early-season breakout. Hubbard missed Weeks 5 and 6 due to injury, leaving Dowdle with the perfect opportunity to break out. The veteran capitalized on the opportunity, seized the lead-back role, and never looked back. As a result, Hubbard's role declined when he returned from injury, and his involvement took another step back two weeks ago. He has played fewer than 23 percent of the offensive snaps in each of his last two games, totaling just eight carries and one reception during that span. Despite signing an extension last winter, Hubbard is now a mere handcuff option behind Dowdle, a potential league-winner.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills running back Ty Johnson continues to operate out of a depth role and is not a reliable fantasy option. Johnson has been the clear No. 2 option behind James Cook this season, primarily checking into the game on occasional passing downs. He has 18 carries and 11 targets so far, ranking as the overall RB70 in PPR leagues. As long as the Bills continue to feed Cook a heavy dose of touches, Johnson and fellow running back Ray Davis will be non-factors in fantasy football. Johnson's only path to fantasy productivity is an injury to Cook, and even then, we could see Davis get the early-down work. The 28-year-old should be left on fantasy waivers in all leagues.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers running back Emanuel Wilson remains a non-factor in fantasy football as long as starter Josh Jacobs is healthy. Wilson has played in all nine games this season, and his snap share peaked at 42 percent when Jacobs was playing through an injury. That ratio dropped to 21 percent last week, and he logged just one carry and one reception along the way. In addition to having a small workload, Wilson has been inefficient lately, averaging just 2.1 yards per touch over his last two games. The 26-year-old should be avoided in all formats ahead of Week 11 against the New York Giants. He's nothing more than a handcuff, and if Jacobs were to get hurt, we'd expect to see some sort of committee showcasing a combination of Wilson, Chris Brooks, and MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring).
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond hauled in a season-high four catches for 49 yards on four targets in his team's Week 10 win over the Washington Commanders. The 31-year-old has seen minimal usage in his team's passing game overall this season, recording 13 catches for 113 yards on 17 targets across nine games played. Raymond and the Lions will also face a significantly more difficult matchup in Week 11 against the Philadelphia Eagles. However, there are a couple of reasons to believe that Raymond's relative breakout may be more than just a one-week blip. For one, Lions head coach Dan Campbell took over play-calling in Week 10 from offensive coordinator John Morton, which could be a reason for Raymond's heavier usage. Additionally, the Lions will be without tight end Sam LaPorta (back) against Philadelphia, which should open up more opportunities for all of the team's secondary pass-catchers. Still, Raymond's limited ceiling makes him a desperation deep-league flex option at best in a difficult Week 11 matchup against the Eagles.
From RotoBaller